This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Bither, Waldo James, Sr., Maj USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Houlton, Maine
Last Address Fort Worth, Texas
Date of Passing Feb 25, 1988
Location of Interment Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum - Ft Worth, Texas
He was the bombardier in crew #12 on the Doolittle Raid. After the raid he was commissioned and went on to serve as a maintenance officer in the USAAF and USAF at bases in the US, Europe, and Japan until he retired Jan 31, 1954.
His DFC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Sergeant Waldo J. Bither (ASN: 6101457), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Bombardier of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Sergeant Bither with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service. Action Date: April 18, 1942
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force Crew #12 (Plane #40-2278, "Fickle Finger of Fate", target Yokohama): 37th Bomb Sq. L-R: Lt. William R. Pound Jr., navigator; Lt. William M. Bower, pilot; SSgt. Omer A. Duquette, flight engineer/gunner; Lt. Thadd H. Blanton, copilot; TSgt. Waldo J. Bither, bombardier. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Other Memories Lt Bither served as an engineering officer with the 14th Bomb Group in England from March to June 1943, and then served as a technical supervisor with Headquarters 8th Air Force in England from June to November 1943. His next assignment was as a technical inspector with the 3rd Combat Crew Replacement Center in England from November 1943 to February 1945, followed by service as Executive Officer and Air Inspector with the 9th Air Disarmament Group in England from February to September 1945.
